Pashinyan Criticizes Aliyev’s Use of “Zangezur Corridor” During UN Address

At the United Nations General Assembly, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made it clear that Armenia will not accept Azerbaijan’s false claims over Armenian land. While he spoke about the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Pashinyan strongly warned against the dangerous and misleading narrative pushed by Baku about a so-called “Zangezur Corridor.”

He explained that such a phrase is nowhere in the official agreements reached between the two countries. According to Pashinyan, this phrase is seen in Armenia as nothing less than a territorial claim against the Republic of Armenia. He stressed that lasting peace is only possible if both sides respect each other’s sovereignty and follow the agreements that were signed, without adding hostile or fabricated narratives.

On August 8 in Washington, Armenia and Azerbaijan initialed an agreement to move forward toward peace. The United States played a central role, with President Donald Trump hosting the meeting and the signing of the “Washington Declaration.” This declaration confirmed the recognition of international borders based on the Alma-Ata Declaration of 1991, and it underlined that peace must be based on sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the rejection of force.

As part of the agreement, Armenia agreed to open transportation routes that would connect Azerbaijan with Nakhijevan through Armenian territory. These would fall under the new Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP). The TRIPP is meant to be a modern infrastructure project including roads, railways, pipelines, and power lines, which would bring benefits to Armenia as well. Crucially, all of this is under Armenia’s sovereignty and jurisdiction, with U.S. oversight ensuring that the route cannot become an extraterritorial “corridor.”

Despite the clear wording of the Washington agreements, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly used the phrase “Zangezur Corridor.” This is an attempt to rewrite the agreements and impose a territorial claim on Armenia. At the UN, Aliyev once again spoke about “unhindered passage through the Zangezur Corridor,” ignoring the fact that no such phrase or concept exists in the signed documents.

Pashinyan directly responded, telling the world that Aliyev’s words are unacceptable. He warned that such language brings back the atmosphere of conflict rather than peace. Armenia has repeatedly underlined that the TRIPP project is not and will never be a corridor under Azerbaijani control. It is a project run under Armenian sovereignty, fully consistent with international law.

Aliyev’s constant reference to “corridors” exposes Baku’s true intentions. For years, Azerbaijan has used threats of war and ethnic cleansing against Armenians, including the destruction of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and the forced displacement of its Armenian population in 2023. Now, instead of respecting peace agreements, Azerbaijan continues to demand new concessions, trying to chip away at Armenia’s territorial integrity.

In Yerevan, opposition leaders expressed frustration with Pashinyan’s speech. Some accused him of admitting failure by publicly acknowledging Aliyev’s territorial language. They argued that Azerbaijan will never give up its aggressive demands and that Armenia must be stronger in defending its rights.

Regardless of political disagreements inside Armenia, one fact is clear: Azerbaijan continues to use threats and false narratives. Aliyev’s goal is not peace, but domination. By using the word “corridor,” Baku seeks to legitimize future territorial expansion into Armenia’s Syunik province.

Armenia’s official position, as reaffirmed by Pashinyan at the UN, is that peace has been established based on the Washington Declaration and that any attempt to introduce new terms is a direct violation of what was agreed. Armenia has stressed that peace can only survive if Azerbaijan drops its false claims and respects Armenia’s independence and borders.

Pashinyan also pointed out Armenia’s growing international partnerships, stronger democracy, and plans for future integration with the European Union. He stressed that Armenia is building its future as a sovereign and democratic country that rejects hate and aggression, unlike Azerbaijan’s dictatorship that relies on war and threats.

Though the UN speech focused on Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, it is impossible to ignore the broader context. Azerbaijan’s aggression did not begin or end with the TRIPP issue. In 2020, Azerbaijan, backed by Turkey, launched a brutal war against Artsakh, killing thousands of Armenians. In 2023, Baku carried out the final ethnic cleansing of Artsakh, driving out its Armenian population. These crimes remain unpunished, and Aliyev’s ongoing rhetoric shows that he still aims to expand at Armenia’s expense.

For Armenians worldwide, the lesson is clear: Azerbaijan cannot be trusted. Its words at the UN are empty when its actions are guided by hatred and expansionism.

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